20 dead in Turkey flash flood

At least seven people are reported to have been killed in Turkey in sudden flooding, but reports are coming in of several other bodies being found.

Six were killed in the north-west of the country, while unconfirmed reports said a dozen or more bodies had been recovered in and around Istanbul.

TV pictures showed main roads near Istanbul's international airport submerged by deep water.

Cars were swept away and some drivers were trapped inside their vehicles.

Police and military helicopters rescued people from rooftops in Istanbul.

Boats were deployed to rescue people from cars.

Meanwhile, in the north-west, roads, homes and farming land were submerged, and at least two bridges collapsed.

Six people were swept away and killed in the town of Saray.

The flooding was caused by torrential rainfall - meteorologists said it was the worst to hit parts of Istanbul in 80 years.

It has been reported in Turkey that one area received 24cm (10in) of rain in just two hours.

More rain is forecast for north-western Turkey in the coming days.

BBC correspondent David O'Byrne, in Istanbul, said he was kept awake for two hours during the night by "thunder and lightning and very heavy rain".

He said the worst affected area is in the far west of Istanbul, but that the centre has not really been affected by flooding.

Istanbul's governor says the death toll from flooding in the city has risen to 20.

Muammer Guler says more than 20 people were also injured in the floods that immersed part of the city on Wednesday.

He says heavy downpours are expected to continue throughout the week but insists authorities are taking the necessary precautions.

At least eight people also died in flooding in Turkey on Tuesday, including two in an Istanbul suburb.